The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1887-03-12
THE FoRrY-N1NrH CONGRESS-.
A Review of its work-Bills Passed and Bills
that Failed.


Review of its work-Bills Passed and Bills
that Failed.
WAsHIYeros, March 1.-The Congress which end
ed lis existence at noon to-day has afforded strik
ing illustration of the constant increase in the vol
ume oflegslation demanding the attention of Con-
gress which has been going on for the last three
more Congresses. More bills were introduced in
both houses, more committee reports made, more
bills passed, more become laws, aud more were
vetoed than ever before.
a number Of the bills enacted into laws were old
and familiar claimants for legislative favor. In this
category belong the presidential succession bill the
siectoral count BILL the interstate commerce tili
and the bill for the relief of Fitz- John Porter
The Forty ninth Congress commenced its sessions
on the 4th of December, 1855, and was in session
until the 9th of August when it adjourned until
December G. and continued in session until its close
to-day. covering total period of ten months and
twenty-sx days OF this time the senate sat in ses
sion "a days, and the House 25l days. There were
introduced in the House during this time 11,25S
bills and 26S joint resolutions on which over
reports were made being several thousand more
bills and overa thousand more reports than were
made in the Forty-eghth Congress- which had in
its turn beaten the record.
In the Senate there were introduced 357 bills and
lis joint resolutions on which 1856 written reports
were made being upward Of 500 more bills and over
400 more reports than in the record breaking Forty
eighth Congress.
mately) 143 of which 1093 originated in the House
and 1888 In the Senate. Two hundred and sixty-four
stitutional ten pays limitation Fifty bills failed
to become laws owing to the adjournment of Com
There 1872 bills vetoed by the President or ii
more instances of the exercise of the presidential
prerogatiye OF veto than had occurred from the
foundation of the government down TO the Begin
ming of this Congress.
But one private bill. viz that granting pension
70 Joseph komiser and one public bill. namely that
providing for the erection OF government building
at Dayton Ohio, succeeded in passing both houses
over the Presidents veto.
The following is list of the more important House
bills which have become laws: To increase the
pensions OF widows and dependent relatives from
IS to SO per month"; to abolish certain fees for OIL
cia services to American vessels and TO amend the
shipping laws, (the Dingley shipping bill ) to pen
sion the Mexican veterans; imposing tax upon and
regulating the manufacture sale, importation and
expectation of oleomargarine: TO extend the imme-
diaic delivery letter system to provide for closing
ofthe business of the Court of Alabama Claims: ex.
tending the free delivery system TO towns of 10000
inhabitants; to provide school of instruction for
cavalry and light artillery; for ightship of the
entrance OF Chesapeake bay; to prohibit govern
ment employees from hiring contracting out the
labor Of the United States prisoners; fixing close
season for maekeral fishing.
OF the House bills of a private character which
became laws the most important the bills plac-
ing tttzyohn Porter on the army retired list and for
the relief ofthe Jeanette sufferers.
Forty House joint resolutions became laws, the
principal ones being as follows: Directing the COM
missioner OF arbor TO make an investigation as
TO convict labor to authorize the President to pro-
tect American fishing and trading vessels and Amer
lean fishermen in Canadian waters, (the Senate
retaliation bill) authorizing an investigation OF the
DOCKS methods and accounts Of the Pacific railroad
| companies.
ate $40 became laws. including lis OF public and
20o of strictly private nature
The following is list of the important SEN
ate bills placed on the statute books by the present
Congress; The presidential succession bill, devolv
ing heirship to the presidency upon members of the
cabinet III the event of vacancy in the office of
! President and Vice. President; the Cullom Reagan
bill 10 regulate interstate commerce. for the retire
ment and recoinage of the trade dollar the redemp-
ton not to come out of the monthly bullion pur-
chase:) the electoral count BILL to bridge the Arthur
Kill: to bridge the East river between New York
/ and Long Island he n an ri.
to establish agricultural experiment stations for the
study of the effects of narcotics and intoxicants in
of trades unions to increase the pension for loss
an arm or leg TO protect the interests of the United
desertion from the records of soldiers who eeniise
without having received discharge on account OF
first enlistment to extend the time for the compile
ton of the records of the Court of Alabama Claims
| The most noteworthy of the private Senate bills
which became laws were bill to remove the political
disabilities of Alexander r. Lawton OF Georgia and
Mrs Grant.
Ofthe foregoing measures seven became laws by
the expiration of the constitutional ten days limta
ton. viz The Mormon poygamy bill the trade dol
lar redemption bill; the militia BILL and four private
bills
The Senate bills vetoed were 50 in number IL be
ing Of public and IS of private character
The SO House bills vetoed included 81 private bills
and six of public nature. Included in the publit
bills vetoed was the dependent pension BILL
Inc regular APPROXIMATION bills y, which failed o.
crosses the river and harbor bill of the present SEES
sion (Which was not signed by the President) anc
the deficiency bill, ION which the conference repor
was not submitted in time for aeton.) The failur,
of the Notifications bill due to decided differ
of opinion between the conferrees of the two
houses.
Legislative provisions were incorporated in tn,
appropriation bills as follows: In the agriculture
appropriation bill, directing the commissioner o
agriculture to purchase and destroy diseased ami
mails whenever 1t is essential to prevent the spread
Of pieuro-pneumonia from one State to another; il
the legislative BILL creating the Office of assistan
commissioner of Indian Affairs in the sundry ciyi
bill. authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury t.
appropriating $4,000 for a home for women in Utal
who renounce, polygamy; in the diplomatic bill
making number OF changes in the consular service
and in the naval appropriation fora number Of new
cruisers and harbor-defense vessels.
Fifty bills in addition to those which became law
and those vetoed were sent 10 the President blu
were "pocketed" by him on the adjournment o
Congress. and therefore failed. The more importan
are as follows: The river and harbor relative t
promotion in the medical corps U. S. A.; TO proven
the employment of convict and aleu- labor on pubi
Siiiroe. La and Annapolis. Md; the o Nell Iabo
s4SIJIdfiOn k. for the settlement of eontruversie
between interstate railroads and their employees ih
Morrison surplus resolution.
The Northern faeiiIc iJ.scs:trSa hill was in con
ference for long while; but the differences provet
gallon of spirits killed by refusal of the Hous
to accept the conference report.
About $50 bills and joint resolutions which passet
the House failed of action in the Senate some O
which, however, We're defeated by adverse com
mittee reports. The more Important of these bill
United States courts in the several States; to author
iSe the establishment of export tobacco nanufacto
rfes, and for drawback upon imported article
used in manufacturing exported tobacco; 4
abrogate the power of United States executive Off
GERS prohibiting clerks of district circuit court
from retaining over $500 annual fees to terminal
certain Chinese treaty stipulations and proiIibi
Chinese immigration TO the United States to ameni
the law making q distinction the mode of packin
and selling cut tobacco.
About $50 bills passed by the Senate failed OF pas
sage in the House.
ha afu af a-n ca,, of
was buheted about from one committee to anothe
in the House and was never allowed to come beibr
the House for action although its friends claimed
decided majority IN its favor on a test vote.
The Cameron-Hale twin bills appropriating ss5
100000 for the increase of the navy were sent to til
naval committee and died there, although pro
= vision for additional vessels was inserted In tn
naval appropriation bill, The twin foftifcalion
bills which passed the Senate were allowed to slee
, in the House appropriations committee room.
The joint resolution to change Inauguration Da
from March to April 80, was iavorably reported
but left Enacted on.
other senate measures which failed of action ar
as ollows Fixing the annual salary of T. $. distrc
judges at 5000 (which failed to secure the two
thirds necessary for its passage under suspension
the rules In the House9 for the admission of Wash
, ington Territory into the Union; for commission
to investigate the liquor traffic. adversely reporeg
from commttee;) for the encouragement Of tn
American merchant marine and TO promote posta
and commercial relations with foreign countrie:
Qhe Frye bill-it died in eommittee;) 10 establish
national livestock highway and to promote com
merce between the States; to credit and pay th
several States and Territories all moneys colecte,
under the direct tax act; to prohibit Transmission
through the mails of publications containing loter
advertisements; for the erection of a monument :
Lincoln; to extent the eghthour law TO letter-car
rers the previous question its passage refused ii
the House;) for the Incorporation OF the Atlantic an,
, Pacific (Eads) Ship Railway Company; to promot
political progress and commercial progress anon
the American nations (it proposed convention o
American nations at Washington) to prohibit mem
bers of Congress from acting attorneys for corpora
tons interested in congressional legslation to in
corporate the Nicaragua Maritime Canal Compa nv
making an Appropriation for the improvement o
the Charleston jetties for monument 10 Mary
mother of Washington; to extiTpate contagiou
pleuro- pneumonia for memorial bridget across tn,
Potomac river at Washington; TO extend the tim
for filing French sp0liation claims; to reimburse tn
Freedmen's Bank depositors to pension Mrs Logan
(Which failed to pass In the House, and Mrs Franl
Blair at S2000 per annum. adversely reported;) d
fix the passport fee at ST. for the erection of public
buildings at the following places: Washington D
c.. (hal of records;l Charlotte N c.. Petersburg Va
Norfolk, Va; Harrsonburg. Va; for Postofice De
partment building at Washington, d. c.. and to prp
vide accommodations for the city pcsta gjee
. The following measures of national importanc,
failed OF action of an affirmative nature in eithe